Posted by John Admin

Scholastic’s latest campaign, You Are What You Read, encourages readers to create a list – or “bookprint” – of books that have left an “indelible mark on our lives, shaping who we are and who we’ve become.”

A few notable names have shared their personal bookprint with Scholastic, including Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. His picks include the classics The Old Man and the Sea and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. And, of course, not to be left out: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!

You can read Mr. Radcliffe’s complete top five list below along with a short explanation for each of his choices:

1. The Old Man and the Sea“I think the Old Man and Sea was probably the first book by a really classic author that I ever read, and it was then that I realized that things were classics for a reason, and they weren’t all just really, really, really hard work.”

2. Germinal“Germinal by Emile Zola was the first sort of longer and more European novel that I ever read, and I remember reading it in like five days. It’s a long book, and I’m a slow reader, but I just did nothing else.”

3. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas“It was given to me on my 15th birthday by a friend, and I just thought it was the funniest thing I ever read and kind of amazing and captured the period of time brilliantly.”

4. The Master and Margarita“The Master and Margarita is my favorite, favorite book in the world ever by Mikhail. To me it’s the greatest exploration of the human imagination, and it’s about forgiveness and life and history, and it’s just the most incredible book that I’ve ever read; I read it once and then I read it almost immediately again.”

5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone“I think it’s fair to say that if we’re talking about the five books that have most influenced my life, I think it would be pretty churlish of me not to say Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for giving me everything that I have and everything that I will have.”

Other famous faces who have shared their bookprint with Scholastic include actress Sarah Jessica Parker, tennis player Serena Williams, and writer/director Richard Curtis.

36 Responses to Daniel Radcliffe’s Five Influential Books For Scholastics ‘You Are What You Read’ Campaign

Want to be a Weasley says: It is so nice to see the books that have influenced him and glad that he included HP :-) I may have to pick up a couple that he mentioned that I haven't read yet.Maestra2 says: YAY! First... What an interesting collection of books. What a great idea by Scholastic!
Go Dan!jedisakora says: Glad to see some classics ^^paskunia says: LOL! My list would include Dr. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail". Anyone interested in how the campaign process works in America would do well to read this. Yeah, "Las Vegas" is another favorite of mine, but I'd only choose one Gonzo book for my list. Reading two might make you freak out- even if you live a clean life.ginny_weasley1998 says: Nice!LunaLuver says: Gone With The Wind would be on my top five list, along with DH and a few other HP books.doctorginny says: Ahahahaha. :) I love Dan Rad... He's so awkward sometimes it's halarious! These are all actually really good books. Haven't read Germinal yet but now I know I will! :D Thanks for the awesome article, leaky/Stephanie_J!bonslp says: It is good to see that Scholastic is reaching out to greater audiences, difficult though it must be to name only five influential books. It is noteworthy that these are not necessarily books that Daniel R. read in school, but for pleasure - a concept that needs to be upheld! I love that several of them are below the radar on most Top 5's that I have seen, especially Emile Zola!
Would love to see more book lists from members of the HP cast as well. halfbloodprincesss says: I love that he included HP, but I don't think I've ever heard of these books before...I need to start reading something other than HP sometimes :)aice031 says: i've never heard of the other books Dan mentioned. . .But I would love reads those books.
So glad he included HP, . .:))WON_TWO says: At least he didn't name any comic books!CCB5Potterfan34 says: You can see that Dan is so far ahead of many of his peers. He is truly exceptional and I found his choices most interesting. Great guy.Valeria-Johanna says: I love 'The Master and Margarita' too. It's a wonderful satirical fantasy written in the Stalin era in Russia, telling how the Devil and various of his associates visit Moscow. Mikhail Bulgakov, the author, was a *very* brave man.CCB5Potterfan34 says: By the way, I am glad to see the site is back to normal. Could anyone tell me what the problem was? I couldn't get here for days.kyrstalkris says: I was happy Harry Potter got into the top five, even if it is number five! (;radishraven says: Being french, I had to read Germinal this year for school. Was more of a burden for me, but I guess it was interesting... Why was Harry Potter number 5? hOnestly. ;DMariaKeis says: Why is HP number five and no number one??
xDRubeusHagrid says: Lol I would have had all Harry Potter novels on my list xD Well..I also love Emma, The Hobbit, and The Hunger Game, and maybe one of The Chronicles of Narnia too--all having influnced my life of course ;)alexweasley12 says: this is cool. idk what books besides hp influenced me (cause harry potter is all i can talk about) lol i like percy jackson...... iwannabeanauror says: I think it was really nice of him to include HP. Especially since he didn't have to, but wanted to. HelloWorld says: "They werenâ€™t all just really, really, really hard work." HAHAHA! Love it. It's nice to see him backing up the worth of classics. :)
jacket says: Of course! Harry Potter if nothing else!
Aceba says: hmmm..... I'll have to read some of these!HPlover11 says: That's great he put HP in his list.As he said it it was the book that changed everything.HPlover11 says: That's great he put HP in his list.As he said it it was the book that changed everything.Mad But Happy says: Oh wow, I know all but one of those books! I'm glad to know he actually reads! There's some actors/actresses whom I'm pretty sure never picked up a book in their lives, lol.Nundu says: To those who only have read the classics because they were assigned reading, wait a few years and go back and read those classics just for personal enjoyment. You'll be amazed how much more you enjoy them if you are not having to analyze them for school assignments.Asria says: The shame! I realised the only book I have actually read is Harry Potter. I have read many, many other really good books though, so I would have trouble choosing ;)
Although I know for sure that The Lord of the Rings (or The Hobbit, perhaps) would be on it!LemonySherbert says: I love his explanation for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone! :D I haven't heard of the other four books, though. Since it's summer, I might read a few of them.... (:silverkacy says: That's nice he's supporting that.handhrfan18 says: i will have to check these books out :DFree Elf says: I'm glad Dan mentioned HP, even if it was last. DH would be at the top of my list, for sure. I've never heard of most of the other books on Dan's list, so now I have four new books to read!Giant Squid says: Ok, adding four more books to my list!ethanHP says: People, I don't think they are in order of importance, it's just the five that he feels have influenced him the most.
Dan loves studing literature and obviously knows how to understand a difficult book. With some of these books is not just reading them but understanding all their different layers, which personally I think its part of the fun.
ElphabaROCKS1 says: LOVE Old Man and The Sea. Hemmingway is great. Halarious that he said HP...Crazy and Proud says: Great idea from Scholastic and so glad the Harry Potter is there.
But I now know what the next 4 books I will read will be. ;D